Electric-lighting apparatus.



C. WiR L ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man xuw 23. 19:5.

1,321,86 i. i I Patented Nov. 18,1919.

INVENTCJR WiTNE S S E-IS I 1 BY A'rronr aY CHARLES WIET, F YHILA'DELPHIA, PENNfiYLVANIA.

ELEGEREGLIQFTXNG APPARATUS.

Specification bf Letters, Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Application filed July 23, 1915'. Serial Ho. ll/30.

be it known that l, CHARLES Win13 a citi lee United States, residing in the iiladclphia, State of Pennsylvania,

l entcd certain new and useful improvcr-cnts 1n lllcctr t-Lightmg Apparatus, of which. the following; is a specification.

My invention relates to means for regulating the amount of light given by an elecl 1'16 lamp, particularly an electric incandescent lamp, by controlling resistance in .3 ell L. e "the/features of my invention resides'in a lamp socket structure within which is disposed the regulating resistance and its 0:-trclling means, "the lamp socket structure ng suitable for attaclnnent to any usual cure without recourse to an intermediate attachment plug or the like.

lily invention resides in other features hereinafter described.

For an illustration of one or". the forms my in ention may take reference is to be had to shown in Fig. l,

Fin. 6 is a diagrammatic View illustrating a suitable arrangement of electrical connections.

Refe ring to the drawing, an ordinary livhtingr hraclret or fixture pipe 1 receives on lower screw-threaded end the screw threaded nut 2 held within the upper end 3 of the metallic cap 4, the lower end of the nut 52- heing spread ever at 5 upon the washer 6 to hold it securely in place. The screw '7 serves to lock the nut 2 upon the pipe 1. The 0011'? ductors 8 and 9 communicating with suitable electric supply circuit extending through the pipe 1 and through a perforation in the insulating; cap lining 10 to the bind I: posts or terminal clamps 11 and 12 secured upon the porcelain member 13 disposed within themctallic shell 1- held to the cap 4 by usual. bayonet or other suitable connections. The terminal clamp 11 has a part extending downwardly through an aperture 15, in block 13, said part terminating in the metallic ring 16 disposed in a ring shaped countersink in the block 13 and embracing the hollow cylindrical extension 17 on the block 13. The terminal clamp 12 has the extension 18 disposed in the countersink 19 in the top of the block 1, such extension 18 havim a screw threaded hole in the axis of the apparatus receiving the screw 20 which extends throlurh the boss 17 and block 13, such screw 20 holding the teifminal 12 securely in place when the parts are assembled.

In a lateral depression 21 on the under side of the block 13 is the flange 23 on the chain or core guide 2 here shown as having;- bell shape, and. through which extend the pull cords or chains 25 and :26, the former of which extends into the tube 28 in the lower end thereof which has thereon an enlargement or ball 25 The other cord or chain 26 passes freely through the tube 27 and has attached to its lower end a ball or button 30. The cords or chains 25 and 26 have their other ends secured to the metallic drum 31 at points substantially diametrically opposite to each other; for this purpose the ends of the cords or chains eu-- in the apertures 32, 32, Fig. 4, of the members 03 which extend through apertures in the drum 31, the inner ends or" the mem bers 33 being held between the drum 31 and the porcelain drum 34 to which the metallic drum 31 is secured. The drum 31 comprises the cylindrical part 31 and the flange 35, the latter substantially flush with the upper surface, of the porcelain drum 34 which has a lower flange 8G. The drum 31 abuts against the dance 36 at its lower. edge and is prevented from rising by the struck-up lugs 37 which are bent into apertures 38 in the member 34, holes 39 in the lower face of the flange 36 giving access for the tool which bends the lugs 37 to position illustrated. Within the porcelain drum 3% is a cylindrical metallic hush 4-0 through which extends held by the screw i 27 and is secured thereto in the slot the metallic sleeve 41 upon which the drum 3 is rotatable by actuation of the cords or chains and 26. The upper end or" the sleeve or bush 41 engages the metallic ring 16 in electrical communication with the terminal ll. Secured to the lower side of the porcelain block 3i by the washer l2 the spi contact plate 4-3 in electrical conneci with sleeve 41 and having struck-up projections ll engaging in depressions in the lower face of the block 3%. The member a3 is cut along the lines 45 forming the projecting lingers a r-(3, which are spring contact fingers, deflected out of the plane of the main part l3.

The sleeve 01' bushing 41 is clamped between the ring 16 and the porcelain block t? which has a central boss extending into the sleeve l1 and which is provided with an axial perto 'ation through which the screw 20 extends. The screw 20 extends through the metallic washer 48 and through the in-- sulating washer 48 to prevent contact between the washer l8 and the threaded shell it) which receives the threaded base of an incandescent lamp L. This threaded shell l9 has the inturncd flange 51 which has projections extending into recesses in the block l7. It thus will be seen that screw 20 in eli'ect holds the parts in their position, the block 13, screw 20 and block -17 being stationary or non-rotatable, as is also the screw threaded socket shell 49.

The resistance element comprises the resistance conductor 53 wound in one or more helical layers and disposed within the plastic ins-[dating material it between the inner mctallic shell and the outer metallic shell Disposed in the plastic n'iaterial M are the contact members 57, 58, 59 and (30 of which 57 is in electrical communication with the metallic shell 55 which is also in electri all communication with the screw threaded shell 49 which receives the screw threaded terminal 50 ot' the incandescent lamp L. Una end of the resistance conductor 53 is connected to the contact inci'nbcr 57; the contact member is connected to the other end of the resistance conductor, and the contacts 58 and 59 are connected to the resistance, conductor at suitable intermediate points, the contacts 58, and (30 being insulated by the plastic n'iaterial 5i 'h'Ol'P. the shell All the contacts 57 to 60 inclusive have their upper ends preferably flush with the upper end of the plastic material 54, and the spring contacts ll in their rotation engage t-hcse contacts in succession. The resistance element is held securely within the shell ll by any suitable means.

The cylindrical shell ll may cXtcnd downwardly to the lower edge or below the resistance element and thus form a device which has the appearance of the usual incandescent lamp socket. As here illustrated the shell 14 may have a bell as 61 to constitute a shade holder having the usual shade engaging screws 62.

Connection between one supply circuit conductor, as 8, and one terminal. of the lamp L is made directly to binding clamp 12, member '18, screw 20, and washer to with which latter or the screw head the central lamp terminal engages when the lamp is screwed home in the screw threaded sleeve 1:9. 1

The other supply circuit conductor, as connects with the binding post or terminal clamp 11 which is integral with the ring 16, thence through said ring 16 and the sleeve ll and bushing -l() with the contact lingers iii.

In the position shown in Fig. 6 no current is passing through the lamp L. If, however, one or the other of the cords 25 or 26 is pulled to bring one of the contact fingers 46 into engagement with contact 60, current will pass through the lamp L and all. of the resistance 53, with the result that the lamp L will be but slightly illuminated. Upon engagement with contact 59 the first section of resistance is cutout, with the re suit that the current through the lamp increases and itglows brighter; when a brush -16 engages contact another section of resistance is cut out with resultant increase in current and greater brightness of the lamp. Finally, when a brush 46 engages contact 57 all oi the resistance is cut out and the lamp glows at its brightest, because it is then subjected to the full voltage of the supply circuit 8, 9.

that l claim is:

l. A lamp socket comprising an immovable hollow rcsistance element, means with in said element for supporting the base of an incandescent electric lamp, an insulating member rotatable relatively to said element, and means carried by said member for cutting dili'erent amounts of resistance in circuit with said lamp.

2. A lamp socket comprising an immovable hollow resistance element adapted to surround the base oi an incandescent electric lamp, said hollow resistance clement containing a resistance, a rotatable switch member of insulating material associated with said element, and means carried by said switch member for connecting electrically different portions of said resistance conductor in ci"cuit through the lamp.

3. A lamp socket comprising an innnovable hollow resistance element, means for supporting the base of an incandescent electric lamp within said element, a rotatable switch member of insulating material associated with said hollow resistance member, and means for varying the amount of resistance in said hollow resistance element in circuit with the lamp.

4. A lamp socket comprising a shell for engagement with the base terminal of the lamp, a hollow resistance element surround- .ing the shell and immovable in relation thereto, said resistance element having a resistance conductor electrically connected with the shell, means for electrically connecting said resistance conductor at points intermediate its ends, a rotary switch member of insulating material associated with said hollow resistance conductor, and means associated with said switch member for conducting current through said hollow resistance element at different points thereof.

5. A lamp socket comprising a shell for engagement with the base terminal of the lamp, a hollow resistance element surrounding the shell and immovable, in relation thereto, said resistance element avirg a resistance conductor electrically connected with the shell, a plurality of contact members electrically connected with difi'erent parts of the resistance conductor, a rotary switch member of insulating material associated with said hollow resistance element and having a contact element adapted to en gage with different contact members as it is rotated, means for rotatin the switch member, anelectrical connection with the shell, and an electrical connection with the switch member.

6. The combination with a resistance element for a lamp regulator comprising separate metallic tubular members, a resistance coil disposed in plastic material between said members. contacts embedded in said plastic material and communicating with different points in said resistance conductor, one of said contacts and one end of said resistance conductor connecting with one of said tubular members, of means within said one of said tubular members and in electrical communication therewith for receiving a lamp, and rotatable contacting mechanism adapted to engage said contacts.

7. The combination with a resistance element in the form of a hollow cylinder, of means for receiving a lamp disposed within said cylinder, two insulating members clamped together, one of said insulating members disposed Within said resistance element, a lamp socket terminal on said last named member, and rotatable contact mechanism coiiperating with said resistance ele ment and disposed between said insulating members.

8. The combination with-a stationary resistance element, a'plura-lity of spaced inance element.

9. The combination with spaced insulating bodies, a conductor for supporting the bodies, a rotatable contact member disposed between the bodies and insulated from the conductor, of a lamp receiving shell secured to one of said insulating bodies, a resistance element secured to the shell, and means for rotating the member relatively to the resistance element.

10. The combination with two insulating bodies, means for spacing the bodies apart,

devices for clamping the bodies to the spacing means, a socket adapted to receive a lamp, said socket secured to one of said bodiesby means of the clamping devices, of a resistance element secured to and surrounding the socket, a member carried on the spacing means between the bodies, said member cooperating with the resistance element, and means for rotating the member relatively to the bodies and the resistance element.

11. The combination with two insulating bodies, a tube for spacing the bodies apart, a bolt for clamping the bodies to the tube, said bolt extending through the tube, a socket secured to one of the bodies, and adapted to receive a lamp, of an adjustable resistance rigidly secured to and surrounding the socket, a drum of insulating material carried on the tube, a brush carried by the drum, and means for rotating the drum whereby the brush may coiiperate with the adjustable resistance.

12. The combination with two insulating bodies, a tube for spacin the bodies apart, a bolt for clamping the bodies to the tube, said bolt extending through the tube, a socket secured to one of the bodies, and adapted to. receive a lamp, of an adjustable resistance rigidly secured to and surrounding the socket, a drum of insulating material carried on the tube, a skirt depending from one of the bodies and encircling the drum, a brush carried by the drum, and means for rotating the drum whereby the brush may coiiperate with the adjustable resistance.

13. The combination with a bell shaped shell, of an annular resistance element rigidly secured to and located within the same, a lamp receiving shell rigidly secured to and within said resistance element, a switch carried between insulating members within said first named shell, said switch being movable relatively to said insulating members and bell shaped shell.

14. A lamp socket comprising a shell for engagement with the base of a lamp, a hollow resistance element surrounding the shell and immovable in relation thereto, said resistance element having a resistance conductor electricallyconn'ec'ted with the shell, a plurality of contact members electrically connected with diilerentpart of the resistance conductor, a block, a standard electrically insulated from the shell and adapted lit Ill

connecting the resistance element immovably in relation to the block, a rotary switch member surrounding the standard and electrically insulated therefrom angel with a contact element edapted'to engage with different contact members of the resistance elementes it is rotated, means for rotating the switch member, a leading-in terminal/in electrical connection with the standard, and a stationary leading-in terminal in electrical connection with the switch member.

15. A lamp socket comprising an inclosing shell, e fixed, hollow, cylindrical insulating element within the shell, a support for an incandescent electric lamp supported within and in innnovable'contactiwlth the element, a' spiral resistance embedded in the element, a rotatable cylindrical switch mem; ber of insulating material in axial elinement with the element, a spring Contact carried by the switch member for electrically con-,

necting diiierent portions of the resistance conductor in circuit with the lamp support and a spring carried by the switch member and engaging the element. y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 19 day of July, 1915 CHARLES WIRT. 

